BIOGRAPHY

Manchester born, Michael Jones has performed from an early age, appearing in local dramatic societies and choirs. He initially studied singing with Carolyn Hargreaves whilst still at school and in 2009 was awarded a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music where he studied with tenor Paul Nilon.

Michael has lead a very active performance life during his studies at the RNCM. In 2011 he placed in the final of the John Ireland Prize and has performed in the choruses of Bizet’s Carmen, Offenbach’s La Belle Helene, Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito and Samuel Barber’s Vanessa. Michael has also performed with local operatic societies appearing as Ecclitico in Silk Opera’s production of Haydn’s Il Mondo della Luna and as Macduff in Opra Cyrmu’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth. In December 2012 Michael played the principal role of Telemachus in the RNCM production of Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’ulisse in Patria, which won rave reviews for the entire cast. In 2014 Michael performed the principal role of Mathurin in Gluck’s L’ivrogne corrige as part of the RNCM Spring opera. In the summer of 2015 Michael toured the UK with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, where he appeared as part of the ensemble as well as covering the role of Marco in The Gondoliers and performing and covering the role of Ralph in HMS Pinafore. Michael began the 2016 season as part of the Iford Young Artist Programme in which he appeared as a member of the ensemble in Verdi’s Macbeth. Following this he re-joined the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company where he covered the role of Frederick in Pirates of Penzance, Nanki-poo in The Mikado, and Leonard in The Yeoman of the Guard.

His concert performances have included Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Vespers, Mozart’s Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe, Dvorak’s The American Flag, and a concert performance of Bizet’s Carmen at the RNCM in which he appeared as Remendado.

In 2016 Michael came back to the RNCM to begin his Master’s Degree under the tutelage of Mary Plazas which has been kindly supported by the Richard Newitt Fund and the Riga Heesom Award. During his studies he has performed the role of Frick in Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne and is also a member of the RNCM Songsters.

Future plans include singing the role of Lurcher in a recording for Cellier’s Dorothy with Victorian Opera Northwest and conducted by Richard Bonynge, as well as premiering the role of Dieter in Adam Gorb’s new opera The Path to Heaven.